A “Battle for Justine” has erupted before David Cameron’s re-shuffle as west London residents try to save Transport Secretary Justine Greening from being ousted because of her opposition to a third runway at Heathrow. Posters have appeared on London Underground carriages bearing a picture of the Putney MP who made her name as a campaigning opponent of Heathrow expansion, with the caption “I’m backing Justine”. The campaign came as business figures piled pressure on the Prime Minister to sack her to pave the way for the Conservatives to carry out a U-turn on their pledge to block the third runway. Anti-expansion campaigner John Stewart said the posters were clearly an attempt to bolster her position in Cabinet. “This Battle for Justine is really a proxy for the real battle over the third runway,” he said. “She is a popular figure in west London because of the way she campaigned against the third runway, even with Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters.”

A “Battle for Justine” has erupted before David Cameron’s re-shuffle as west London residents try to save Transport Secretary Justine Greening from being ousted because of her opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.

Posters have appeared on London Underground carriages bearing a picture of the Putney MP who made her name as a campaigning opponent of Heathrow expansion, with the caption “I’m backing Justine”.

The campaign came as business figures piled pressure on the Prime Minister to sack her to pave the way for the Conservatives to carry out a U-turn on their pledge to block the third runway.

Richard Wellings, of the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank, said her position was “untenable”. “It is a problem having her as Transport Secretary with such a local interest in the issue,” he said, telling the FT it would “make sense to replace her”.

But anti-expansion campaigner John Stewart said the posters were clearly an attempt to bolster her position in Cabinet. “This Battle for Justine is really a proxy for the real battle over the third runway,” he said. “She is a popular figure in west London because of the way she campaigned against the third runway, even with Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters.”

Mr Stewart, the chairman of pressure group Hacan, said the posters started to appear this week. “I don’t know who is behind them but they are clearly designed to help her.”

Mr Cameron is planning his first strategic ministerial re-shuffle, expected early next month after his return from holiday. If Ms Greening is moved to another job, it would be taken as a clear signal that he intends to support Heathrow expansion in future. If she stays in post, a third runway would be ruled out for the time being.

There have been claims recently that Ms Greening has lost support in No 10 and that George Osborne thinks she has not behaved in a “mature” fashion. Several Tory ministers and MPs say privately that Mr Cameron made a blunder in blocking the third runway. In recent months the PM has talked up the need for South-East expansion and refused to rule out a U-turn on the third runway after the next election — but it is not clear if his words represent a shift in thinking or an attempt to avoid being boxed in while under pressure.

Telegraph speculates on Cabinet reshuffle to move Justine Greening from Transport due to Heathrow

Date added: August 23, 2012

Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, may be moved to another high profile Cabinet position in a reshuffle as the Prime Minister considers allowing a third runway to be built at Heathrow. Westminster sources said David Cameron is considering moving Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary, to the transport department before a major shift in aviation policy – and this may happen in September. Miss Greening, a West London MP, has led the campaign against the expansion of Heathrow and is not likely even to consider allowing a third runway while responsible for the policy. The Lib Dems are also opposed. There has been intense pressure on her, from business, to expand Heathrow. A consultation is expected to be announced in the autumn on Britain’s airport capacity. Airport strategy is one of the Government’s most controversial areas of policy, plagued by Cabinet infighting. Justine’s removal would go down very badly with Heathrow residents.